US9304482B2 - Image forming apparatus with detachable components - Google Patents

Image forming apparatus with detachable components Download PDF

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Publication number
US9304482B2
US9304482B2 US14/611,560 US201514611560A US9304482B2 US 9304482 B2 US9304482 B2 US 9304482B2 US 201514611560 A US201514611560 A US 201514611560A US 9304482 B2 US9304482 B2 US 9304482B2
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Prior art keywords
cartridge
developing
image
image forming
forming apparatus
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US20150220049A1 (en
Inventor
Hiroshi Kato
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KATO, HIROSHI
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1604—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
    • G03G21/1623—Means to access the interior of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1633—Means to access the interior of the apparatus using doors or covers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements for connecting the different parts of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1647—Mechanical connection means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1661—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus
    • G03G21/1676—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus for the developer unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
    • G03G21/1817—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement
    • G03G21/1821—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1842—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks
    • G03G21/1853—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge is removably mountable.
  • Cartridges made up of various units different in service life have been in use for a long time.
  • a photosensitive drum for example, is longer in service life than a development roller.
  • Placement of components different in length of service life in different units, one for one makes it possible to replace only the unit which contains the component necessary to be replaced.
  • it can reduce an image forming apparatus in terms of cartridge cost. It can also contribute to efficient usage of natural resources.
  • Patent Document 1 an image forming apparatus structured so that its replaceable (consumable) components and supplies are placed in removable units, one for one. More specifically, the process cartridge employed by this image forming apparatus is structured so that it can be separated into a drum cartridge and a development cartridge after being moved out of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
  • an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a drum cartridge including an image bearing member; a developing cartridge including developing means for developing the image formed on said image bearing member; a cartridge mounting member to which said image bearing member cartridge and said developing cartridge are detachably mountable; transferring means for transferring a visualized image provided by said developing means on said image bearing member, onto the recording material fed along a feeding path; and an opening and closing cover provided across said feeding path from said image bearing member, wherein said cartridge mounting member is capable of permitting said developing cartridge to be mounted thereto and dismounted therefrom across the feeding path through an opening provided by opening said opening and closing cover, without removing said drum cartridge.
  • FIG. 1 is a drawing for describing the mechanism for removably mounting a cartridge, in the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus, in the first embodiment, having the mechanism for removably mounting a cartridge.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus, in the first embodiment, having the mechanism for removably mounting a cartridge, in which the cartridge is mounted into, or dismounted from, the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
  • FIG. 4 is a detailed drawing of the mechanism, in the first embodiment, for removably mounting a cartridge.
  • FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are illustrations of the process of removing a cartridge, in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism, in the second embodiment of the present invention, for removably mounting a cartridge.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mechanism, in the second embodiment, for removably mounting a cartridge.
  • FIG. 8 is a drawing for describing the cover of the image forming apparatus, in the second embodiment, which can be rotationally opened or closed to remove a jammed sheet of recording medium.
  • FIG. 9 is a drawing for describing the cartridge guide movement caused by the opening or closing movement of the cover, in the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus having a mechanism, in accordance with the present invention.
  • this mechanism will be referred to as “cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism” or “cartridge mounting and dismounting mechanism”. It shows the general structure of the apparatus.
  • the image forming apparatus in this embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, more specifically, a laser beam printer.
  • the main assembly A (which hereafter will be referred to as “image forming apparatus main assembly”) employs an electrophotographic photosensitive member 107 (which hereafter will be referred to simply as “photosensitive drum”), which is an image bearing member and is in the form of a drum.
  • the photosensitive drum 107 is uniformly charged by a charge roller 108 as a charging means.
  • one of the sheets 102 of recording medium in a sheet feeding tray 103 d is fed into the image forming apparatus main assembly by a combination of a pickup roller 103 a , and a separating member 103 b which is kept pressed upon the pickup roller 103 a . Then, the sheet 102 is conveyed to a transfer position by a pair of sheet conveyance rollers 103 e . In the transfer position, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 107 is transferred onto the sheet 102 by the application of voltage to a transfer roller 104 as a transferring means. After the transfer of the toner image onto the sheet 10 , the sheet 102 is conveyed to a fixing means 105 by a sheet conveyance guide 103 f.
  • the fixing means 105 has a driving roller 105 a and a rotational fixing member 105 d .
  • the rotational fixing member 105 d has: an endless belt; a heater 105 b , which is on the inward side of the endless belt; and a supporting member, by which the endless belt is rotatably supported.
  • This fixing means 105 fixes the transferred toner image on the sheet 102 of recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the sheet 102 and the toner image thereon while the sheet 102 is conveyed through the fixing means 105 . After the fixation of the toner image, the sheet 102 is conveyed further, and then, is discharged into a delivery tray 106 by a pair of discharge rollers 103 c.
  • the fixing means 105 There are various fixing methods which can be used by the fixing means 105 ; the fixing method to be used by the fixing means 105 does not need to be limited to the above described one.
  • the sheet conveying means 103 is made up of the pickup roller 103 a , separating member 103 b , sheet conveyance roller 103 e , discharge rollers 103 c , etc.
  • the transfer roller 104 is held by a cover 115 which can be rotationally opened or closed by a user.
  • the transfer roller 104 can be rotationally moved about the rotational axis 115 a of the cover 115 , along with the cover 115 . That is, a user can open the cover 115 to replace the cartridge in the image forming apparatus main assembly, and also, to remove a jammed sheet in the main assembly.
  • the image forming apparatus main assembly A has the sheet conveying means 103 , fixing means 105 , and a driving means (unshown) for driving a process cartridge B ( FIG. 2 ).
  • the driving means (unshown) drives each of various rotational members by transferring the driving force from a motor (unshown), which is a driving force source, to the rotational member through gear trains (unshown).
  • the driving force is transmitted to the process cartridge B. Further, the driving force from the image forming apparatus main assembly A is transmitted to the process cartridge B by a coupling means such as the one disclosed in Japanese Patent 02875208, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application H10-240103, for example.
  • the coupling means disclosed in these patent applications are made up of a main assembly coupling and a cartridge coupling.
  • the main assembly coupling has a helical hole, which is coaxial with the output gear shaft of the above-described gear train, and the cross section of which is roughly in the form of an equilateral triangle.
  • the cartridge coupling has a helical protrusion the cross-section of which is roughly in the form of an equilateral triangle.
  • Coupling of the main assembly coupling with the cartridge coupling causes the driving force transmitting portion of the image forming apparatus main assembly A to align with the driving force transmitting portion of the cartridge B, and also, to precisely position the image forming apparatus main assembly A and cartridge B relative to each other.
  • the image forming apparatus is provided with a means (unshown) for coupling or uncoupling this coupling means.
  • the process cartridge B in this embodiment is made up of a drum cartridge 109 , and a development cartridge 111 , which can be independently mounted into, or dismounted from, the image forming apparatus main assembly A, from each other.
  • the drum cartridge 109 integrally holds: the photosensitive drum 107 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image bearing member; charge roller 108 which charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 107 ; a cleaning device 110 which removes the residual toner image on the photosensitive drum 107 and recovers the removed toner; etc.
  • the development cartridge 111 it has a development roller 112 which is a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 107 into a visible image. Further, the development cartridge 111 has a toner storage 113 in which the toner to be supplied to the development roller 112 is stored; multiple stirring members 114 for stirring the toner delivered from the toner container; and the like members.
  • FIG. 4( a ) is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism, in this embodiment, for mounting or dismounting a cartridge, in this embodiment.
  • the structural components shown in FIG. 4( a ) are assembled as shown in FIG. 4( d ) ( FIG. 4( b ) is a top view).
  • the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism in this embodiment has: a cartridge guide 116 which holds the drum cartridge 109 and development cartridge 111 ; and main assembly lateral plate 117 ; and the first spring 122 which continuously applies pressure to the cartridge guide 116 .
  • the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism has: a rotation controlling member 119 which controls the cartridge holding member ( 116 ) in rotational movement; and the second spring 118 which continuously applies pressure to the rotation controlling member 119 . Further, it has a unlocking member 120 which is for freeing the rotation controlling member 119 ; a holding member 121 which holds the second spring 118 , rotation controlling member 119 , and unlocking member 120 , to the main assembly lateral plate 117 .
  • FIG. 4( c ) is an external side view of the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism, which shows only a cartridge guide 116 , a part of the main assembly lateral plate 117 , a rotation controlling member 119 , and the first spring 122 .
  • the first spring 122 is held by the main assembly lateral plate 117 .
  • the position of the cartridge guide 116 in terms of the thrust direction is regulated (controlled) by the hook-shaped portion 116 c of the cartridge guide 116 , and the surface 117 e of the main assembly lateral plate 117 ( FIG. 4( b ) ).
  • the supporting shaft 116 a of the cartridge guide 116 is rotatably supported by the main assembly lateral plate 117 by being put through the hole 117 a (axial line of which will coincide with supporting shaft 116 a ), with which the main assembly lateral plate 117 is provided.
  • the hook-shaped portion 116 c of the cartridge guide 116 remains under the pressure generated by the first spring 122 in the direction indicated by a referential code ⁇ in FIG. 4( c ) in a manner to rotate the supporting shaft 116 a.
  • the first controlling surface 116 b of the cartridge guide 116 ( FIG. 4( a ) ) remains in contact with the controlling surface 119 c ( FIG. 4( c ) ) of the rotation controlling member 119 .
  • the cartridge guide 116 remains precisely positioned during an image forming operation. That is, the cartridge guide 116 which guides the drum cartridge 109 and development cartridge 111 when they are mounted or dismounted, remain in the first position (image formation position) in the image forming apparatus main assembly A during an image forming operation.
  • the first controlling surface 116 b of the cartridge guide 116 , and the controlling surface 119 c of the rotation controlling member 119 function as the positioning means for keeping the cartridge guide 116 in the first position.
  • the rotation controlling member 119 (controlling surface 119 c ) is freed from the control placed thereon by the cartridge guide 116 (first controlling surface 116 b ).
  • the cartridge guide 116 is rotated by the first spring 122 as shown in FIG. 1( b ) , as will be described later in detail.
  • the second controlling surface 116 f (FIG. ( 4 ( c )) of the cartridge guide 116 comes into contact with the controlling surface 117 d ( FIG. 4( c ) ), being thereby precisely positioned by the controlling surface 117 d , through the curved guiding groove 117 c , as a guiding portion, with which the main assembly lateral plate 117 is provided. That is, the cartridge guide 116 which is a cartridge mounting member is enabled to take the second position in which it allows the drum cartridge 109 and development cartridge 111 to be mounted or dismounted.
  • the second controlling surface 116 f of the cartridge guide 116 , and the controlling surface 117 d of the main assembly lateral plate 117 function together as the positioning for positioning the cartridge guide 116 in the second position.
  • the rotation controlling member 119 comes into contact with the controlling surface 117 b ( FIG. 4( b ) ) of the main assembly lateral plate 117 , being precisely position in terms of the vertical direction (top-bottom direction) in FIG. 4( c ) .
  • the position of the rotation controlling member 119 is regulated by a combination of the unlocking member 120 and holding member 121 , shown in FIG. 4( b ) .
  • the rotation controlling member 119 remains under the pressure generated by the second spring 118 in the direction indicated by an arrow mark +X.
  • the slanted surface 119 b of the rotation controlling member 119 continuously presses the unlocking member 120 in the direction indicated by an arrow mark ⁇ Y.
  • the disengagement prevention surface 120 b ( FIG. 4( b ) ) of the unlocking member 120 remains in contact with the holding member 121 , preventing thereby the rotation controlling member 119 from disengaging in the direction indicated by the arrow mark ⁇ Y.
  • FIG. 4( b ) which is a top view of the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism
  • the movement of the unlocking member 120 in the directions indicated by the arrow marks +X and ⁇ Y is controlled by the surface 117 e of the main assembly lateral plate 117 and the surface 121 a of the holding member 121 .
  • the contacting surface 120 a of the unlocking member 120 is in contact with the slanted surface 119 b of the rotation controlling member 119 .
  • the pressing of the surface 120 c of the unlocking member 120 by a user causes the rotation controlling member 119 to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow mark ⁇ X against the resiliency of the second spring 118 .
  • the pressing of the surface 120 c by a user in the direction +Y in FIG. 4( b ) causes the rotation controlling member 119 (controlling surface 119 c ) to separate from the cartridge guide 116 (first controlling surface 116 b ), by being guided by the slanted surface 119 b of the rotation controlling member 119 .
  • the image forming apparatus main assembly A is structured so that as the cover 115 is opened, it becomes possible for a user to press the surface 120 c of the unlocking member 120 .
  • the unlocking member 120 (surface 120 c ) and rotation controlling member 119 (controlling surface 119 b ) function as a means for switching the position of the cartridge guide 116 from the first position to the second position.
  • FIG. 1( a ) shows the position of the cartridge guide 116 during an image forming operation. If it is necessary for a user to replace the cartridge in the image forming apparatus main assembly A, the user is to open the cover 115 and press the surface 120 c shown in FIG. 4( b ) , by a preset amount. As the surface 120 c is pressed, the rotation controlling member 119 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow mark ⁇ X in FIG. 4( b ) until the rotation controlling member 119 separates from the cartridge guide 116 .
  • the cartridge guide 116 is rotationally moved by the first spring 122 in the direction ⁇ shown in FIG. 4( c ) , being thereby rotated until its second controlling surface 116 f of the charging device 112 comes into contact with the controlling surface 117 d of the main assembly lateral plate 117 ( FIG. 4( c ) ).
  • the attitude of the cartridge guide 116 changes into the one (in second position) shown in FIG. 1( b ) , in which the cartridge in the image forming apparatus main assembly A can be removed to be replaced.
  • the rotation controlling member 119 remains under the pressure from the second spring 118 , remaining therefore in contact with the surface 116 d ( FIG. 4( a ) ) of the cartridge guide 116 . That is, the cartridge guide 116 remains free from the rotation controlling member 119 .
  • a user is to directly push the cartridge guide 116 in the direction ⁇ to rotate the cartridge guide 116 .
  • the unlocking member 120 surface 120 c
  • rotation controlling member 119 controlling surface 119 b
  • the rotation controlling member 119 becomes free from the surface 116 d of the cartridge guide 116 , which prevents the rotation controlling member 119 from moving in the direction indicated by the arrow mark +X in FIG. 4( b ) .
  • the rotation controlling member 119 returns to the position shown in FIG. 4( b ) .
  • the first controlling surface 116 b of the cartridge guide 116 comes into contact with the controlling surface 119 c of the rotation controlling member 119 , whereby the cartridge guide 116 is kept in the position (first position) in which it allows the image forming apparatus to form images.
  • an image forming in order to make it easier for a user to remove a jammed sheet(s) of recording medium from an image forming apparatus, an image forming has to be structured so that a user can easily access the jammed sheet(s) of recording medium across the internal recording medium conveyance passage P of the image forming apparatus. That is, an image forming apparatus has to be structured so that the recording medium conveyance passage is positioned next to the cover 115 as shown in FIG. 5A .
  • the position of the development roller 112 is regulated by the fact that it enables an image forming apparatus to form images. It is also regulated by the positional relationship between the development roller 112 and recording medium conveyance passage P. It is common practice to structure an image forming apparatus so that in terms of cross-sectional view, the center of the development roller 112 is positioned on the opposite side of a line which coincides with the center of the photosensitive drum 107 and is parallel to the recording medium conveyance passage P, as shown in FIG. 5A , for the purpose of reducing the main assembly of an image forming apparatus in height.
  • the angle between the line which coincides with the point of contact between the photosensitive drum 107 (as image bearing member) and development roller 112 (developing means) and is tangential to the peripheral surface of the development roller 112 (photosensitive drum 107 ), and the recording medium conveyance passage P, is roughly 30 degrees, which is relatively large.
  • the image forming apparatus main assembly A and process cartridge B have to be structured so that the photosensitive drum 107 can be moved away downward from the development cartridge mounting-dismounting passage, as shown in FIG. 5A .
  • This structural arrangement makes it necessary to increase the image forming apparatus main assembly A in size.
  • the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism in this embodiment is structured so that the cartridge guide 116 can be switched in position between the first position in which it enables the image forming apparatus to form images, and the second position in which it allows a user to replace the development cartridge 111 , as described above. That is, in the case of the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism in this embodiment, the cartridge guide 116 makes it possible for the development cartridge 111 to be moved between the first and second positions. By the way, the cartridge guide 116 enables the drum cartridge 109 also to move between the first and second positions.
  • the second position is set as shown in FIG. 5B , so that when the cartridge guide 116 is in the second position, it does not interfere with the other internal components. More specifically, the angle between the line which coincides with the point of contact between the photosensitive drum 107 and development roller 112 and is tangential to both the photosensitive drum 107 and development roller 112 , and the line which is perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance passage P, is roughly 10 degrees, which is smaller than when it is during an image forming operation (first position in FIG. 5A ). That is, when the cartridge guide 116 is in the second position, the development roller 112 is closer to the recording medium conveyance passage P than when the cartridge guide 116 is in the first position.
  • the second position is such a position that the position in which the development roller 112 is when the cartridge guide 116 is in the second position is on the upstream side, in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 107 , of the position in which the development roller 112 is when the cartridge guide 116 is in the first position.
  • the image forming apparatus is structured so that when the cartridge guide 116 is in the second position for cartridge mounting-dismounting (cartridge replacement), the center of the development roller 112 , in terms of cross sectional, is on the same side as the line which is parallel to the recording medium conveyance passage P, in the adjacencies of the photosensitive drum 107 , and coincides with the center of the photosensitive drum 107 in terms of cross sectional view. That is, the image forming apparatus is structured so that the rotational axis of the cartridge guide 116 coincides with the center of the circle which the theoretical extension of the above described curved guiding grooves 117 c (guiding portion) forms.
  • the drum cartridge 109 and development cartridge 111 which together make up the process cartridge B can be independently removed from the image forming apparatus main assembly A from each other, across the recording medium conveyance passage P.
  • the direction in which the development cartridge 111 is removed, and the direction in which the drum cartridge 109 is removed, are the same (including roughly the same direction). That is, this embodiment makes it possible to replace the development cartridge 111 without removing the drum cartridge 109 .
  • this embodiment makes it unnecessary for the drum cartridge 109 of the process cartridge B which is a combination of the drum cartridge 109 and development cartridge 111 , to be dismounted and remounted each time the development cartridge 111 needs to be replaced. Thus, it can improve an image forming apparatus and the process cartridge therefor in the efficiency with which a user can replace the development cartridge 111 .
  • a development cartridge 111 needs to replaced more frequently than a drum cartridge. According to this embodiment, it is only when the drum cartridge has to be replaced that the drum cartridge has to be moved out of the image forming apparatus main assembly A. Thus, this embodiment can reduce the possibility that a photosensitive drum will be damaged by a user.
  • this embodiment makes it unnecessary for the image forming apparatus main assembly A to be provided with a drum shutter with which a conventional image forming apparatus (process cartridge) is provided to prevent drum damage, making unnecessary the space for a drum shutter.
  • this embodiment can reduce in size the image forming apparatus main assembly A as well.
  • the second embodiment of the present invention which causes an operation for mounting or dismounting at least one of drum cartridge and development cartridge, to switch in position a cartridge guide between the first and second positions, is described.
  • the components, portions thereof, etc, of the image forming apparatus and process cartridge therefore in this embodiment, which are the same in structure as the counterparts in the first embodiment are given the same referential codes as those given to the counterparts, one for one, and are not described. That is, this embodiment is described about its differences from the first embodiment.
  • the position of the cartridge guide is switched from the first one to the second one by the opening movement of the cover 215 with which the image forming apparatus main assembly A having a cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism is provided, unlike in the first embodiment, in which the rotation controlling member 119 has to be directly pushed by a user.
  • the image forming apparatus is provided with a cover 215 which can be rotationally opened or closed by a user, and a rotation controlling member 220 .
  • the cover 215 is provided with a protrusion 215 b ( FIG. 7 ), and the image forming apparatus is structured so that as the cover 215 is opened or closed, the protrusion 215 b causes the rotation controlling member 220 to move.
  • the second difference is that in this embodiment, the cartridge guide 216 is switched in position from the second one to the first one by the opening of the cover 215 of the image forming apparatus main assembly A having the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism by a user, whereas in the first embodiment, a user has to directly push the cartridge guide 116 in order to move the cartridge guide 116 from the cartridge replacement position (second position) to the image formation position (first position). That is, in this embodiment, the controlling surface 215 c ( FIG. 7 ) of the cover 215 is made to move the cartridge guide 216 by the closing movement of the cover 215 . Otherwise, the image forming apparatus main assembly and process cartridge therefor, in this embodiment, are the same in structure and operation as the counterparts in the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism in this embodiment.
  • the components shown in FIG. 6 are assembled as shown in FIG. 7 .
  • the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism in this embodiment has: a cartridge guide 216 ; main assembly lateral plate 217 ; and the first spring 222 which presses on the cartridge guide 216 . It has also: a rotation controlling member 219 which controls the rotational movement of the cartridge guide 216 in the image formation position (first position); a unlocking member 220 which unlocks the rotation controlling member 219 ; and a rotationally movable cover 215 . Further, the unlocking member 220 is rotatably supported by the main assembly lateral plate 217 , and has a cam surface 220 c.
  • the protrusion 215 b of the cover 215 presses the cam surface 220 c of the unlocking member 220 , causing thereby the unlocking member 220 to rotationally move by a preset angle in the direction indicated by an arrow mark ⁇ in FIG. 7 . Consequently, the rotation controlling member 219 is prevented from preventing the cartridge guide 216 from rotationally moving in the direction indicated by the arrow mark R, as in the first embodiment.
  • the cover 215 which can be rotationally opened or closed has a controlling surface 215 c .
  • the controlling surface 215 c presses the surface 216 e of the cartridge guide 216 , causing thereby the cartridge guide 216 to rotationally move in the direction indicated by the arrow mark ⁇ .
  • the rotation controlling member 219 is made to retreat in the direction indicated by the arrow mark ⁇ X against the resiliency of the second spring 218 .
  • the rotation controlling member 219 separates from the first controlling surface 216 b , allowing thereby the cartridge guide 216 to move.
  • the cartridge guide 216 is made to rotationally move in the direction ⁇ by the resiliency of the first spring 222 .
  • the rotation controlling member 219 which is under the pressure from the second spring 218 comes into contact with the surface 216 d of the cartridge guide 216 , being thereby prevented from moving in the direction +X. Then, as the cartridge guide 216 is rotationally moved by the preset angle, the second controlling surface 216 f of the cartridge guide 216 comes into contact with the second controlling surface 217 d of the main assembly lateral plate 217 , being thereby positioned in the cartridge replacement position (second position).
  • the controlling surface 215 c of the cover 215 is made to press the surface 216 d of the cartridge guide 216 , by the rotational movement of the cover 215 in the closing direction. Consequently, the cartridge guide 216 is moved in the direction ⁇ against the resiliency of the first spring 222 . As the cover 215 is rotated in the closing direction by the preset angle, the cartridge guide 216 rotationally moves beyond the image formation position.
  • the rotation controlling member 219 moves in the direction +X, shown in FIG. 7 , preventing thereby the cartridge guide 216 from rotationally moving in the direction ⁇ , as in the first embodiment. Thereafter, as the cover 215 is rotationally moved further, the cover 215 stops controlling the movement of the cartridge guide 216 , as shown in FIG. 9( b ) . Consequently, the surface 216 b of the cartridge guide 216 is pressed on the controlling surface 219 c of the rotation controlling member 219 by the resiliency of the first spring 222 . Thus, the cartridge guide 216 is kept in the image formation position (first position) by the resiliency of the first spring 222 .
  • the cartridge mounting-dismounting mechanism is structured so that the cartridge guide 216 is rotationally moved by the opening movement of the door 215 into the position in which it allows a user to replace the development cartridge 211 . Therefore, this embodiment is superior to the first embodiment in terms of the efficiency with which the development cartridge 211 is replaceable.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
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JP6946628B2 (ja) * 2016-09-30 2021-10-06 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置
JP7102194B2 (ja) * 2018-04-03 2022-07-19 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置

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US20160306319A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2016-10-20 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus
US9746825B2 (en) * 2014-03-31 2017-08-29 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus having mountable and demountable photosensitive member cartridge and developing cartridge
US10152019B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2018-12-11 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus having mountable and demountable photosensitive member cartridge and developing cartridge
US10551791B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2020-02-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus having mountable and demountable photosensitive member cartridge and developing cartridge
US10831149B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2020-11-10 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus having mountable and demountable photosensitive member cartridge and developing cartridge

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